America
Case study Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc.
Organized their complicated approval process by implementing Kintone. Kintone made their approval process simpler and smoother to navigate for all employees.
Highlighted Service
Simplifying Approval Process with Kintone
Problems Faced Before Introduction of Kintone:
We managed the application and approval formats in Excel, printed and submitted them, or attached them to emails. However:
- Due to receiving numerous emails, approvers often missed approval requests. Approval processes also took longer during approvers' business trips.
- It was difficult to know how far the approval process had progressed or understand its status.
- Some submitted applications by printing on paper while others attached them to emails, lacking uniformity. Additionally, it was inefficient for accounting to print receipt files, and managing original documents such as receipts was cumbersome due to dispersed office locations.
- Approval routes varied depending on the approval content, requiring regular confirmation with HR and General Affairs. In particular, there was a surge in inquiries after regular personnel transfers.
- The storage location and method for applications were not standardized, leading to significant effort during audits to verify application data.
Improvements with Kintone:
- Because approval processes can now be done anywhere, quick decision-making is possible.
- Since approval statuses can be viewed in a list, it is easy to send reminders to approvers who are holding up the process.
- The implementation of paperless processes has significantly reduced the workload of the accounting department.
- Because approval routes are set in advance, applicants are able to progress through the process without delay.
- There are no longer any inquiries regarding approval routes to the HR department.
- Audits and other necessary checks can now be smoothly conducted whenever needed.
Why Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc. Chose Kintone:
In 2018, digitalizing general affairs tasks related to accounting and human resources was a challenge. At that time, issues such as lack of pre-application procedures and untimely expense claims were causing operational delays. Furthermore, after the merger of two companies, the approval workflows became inefficient due to double standards.
Adapting workflows to comply with company policies and government guidelines revisions proved difficult, so approval processes had long been managed using Excel formats, each tailored to specific approval cases, leading to increased complexity in management.
By using Kintone, various formats could be organized into a single Kintone app, making it easier for both applicants and approvers to understand. Kintone was adopted as a system capable of reflecting complex workflows and adapting to changes in those workflows.
The adoption started with travel requests and accounting settlements, and six months later, as end users became familiar with Kintone, its application was expanded to other areas as well.
Kintone Deployment and Its Effect
Members who have been with us for a long time, including management, were quite resistant to changing the way things had been done. Therefore, in the early stages of introduction, we established rules such as requiring applications like business trip requests and expense claims to be made exclusively through Kintone. This encouraged everyone to start using Kintone, resulting in a lot of feedback from the field. We took those opinions into account to improve the apps, eventually completing an app that is user-friendly and meets the needs of the actual users.
As people became more familiar with Kintone, we progressed to the second phase, tackling heavier operations such as credit management. With growing familiarity with Kintone, its usage smoothly permeated throughout.
Even during the COVID-19 situation, having used Kintone before the outbreak allowed us to transition to sudden remote work needs smoothly and with minimal confusion.
Subsequently, we recommended approval and application management through Kintone to our related companies in the United States and our subsidiary in Mexico, both of which also adopted it. Together with our group companies, Kintone has taken a leading role in promoting digitalization.
Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc.'s Kintone Project Leader
Shohei Saeki
Credit Manager, HR & Admionistration Support
Customer profile
Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc.
Head office |
200 N. Martingale Road, Suite 801, Schaumburg, IL 60173 |
Establishment |
1977 |
On April 1, 2019, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Bussan Americas, Inc., a trading company within the Nippon Steel Group, changed its company name from Nippon Steel & Sumikin Bussan Americas, Inc. to Nippon Steel Trading Americas, Inc. It functions as a subsidiary in the Americas for Nippon Steel Trading Co., Ltd., which is part of the Nippon Steel Group. The company operates three integrated businesses: "Steel," "Industrial Machinery & Infrastructure," and "Food."
What is the best solution for your problem?
Please consult a KDDI consultant.
Related case studies
